Susanna drew 52% of the votes, with Williams taking 12%, while Bill Turnbull pulled in 8% as fans chose from more than 40 presenters.

She said: "I am honoured to have earned the respect and appreciation of Breakfast viewers. I feel lucky even to be on the list of those brilliant presenters who have hosted this programme over the past 30 years."

Tim Glanfield, editor of radiotimes.com said: "Susanna Reid is undoubtedly the host most viewers want to wake up to."

Susanna, who first appeared on TV acting in the Channel 4 mini-series The Price in 1985, began her journalistic career at BBC Radio Bristol in the 1990s.

She was a late night reporter for BBC News 24 but was asked to stand in for a newsreader who had not arrived for their shift. She joined Breakfast in 2004 and became the main female presenter last year following Sian's departure.